Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder

Schizophrenia is characterised by psychosis (loss of contact with reality),hallucinations(false perceptions),delusions(false beliefs),disorganised speech and behaviour,restricted emotions,impaired reasoning and problem solving,occupational and social dysfunction.

Causes:

Alterations in brain structure (enlarged cerebral ventricles,thinning of cortex,decreased size of hippocampus and other brain structures)

Changes in neurotransmitter levels dopamine and glutamate.

Stressors can trigger the emergence of symptoms. Stressors may be primarily biochemical(substance abuse eg:marijuana),social(becoming unemployed,leaving home for education, joining armed forces,breaking off a romantic relationship)